Awning structure



Aug. 19, 1947. c. c. wlLLls AWNING STRUCTURE' Filed oet. 9, 1945 2 'sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. War/es M////J yad BY FM ATTORNEY!" Aug. A19, 1947. c. c. wlLLls 4AwNIMG STRUCTUREm Filed 00hs, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .which rollers the" awnings are Patented ug. 19, 1947 AWNING STRUCTURE h Charles C. Willis","Bo`1`1d Broch, N. J., assignor to Crown Fastener Corporation, are 1 i corporation of Delaw Warren, R. I., a

Application october e, 1945serial No. 621,216A

19 claims. (o1. 16o- 54) This invention relates to awning structures Aof the kind commonlyemployed in front of stores and elsewhere to shield windows from the sun and in which the awnings proper are'adapted tof be secured to rollers at their upper ends, upon wound whenv required to be raised. :More particularly the invention relates to awning `structures of this character which areof such dimensions as to'require the use of at least two awning sections. f 1

In the construction of such awnings, as illustrated, for example, in Patent No. 2,060,582, dated November 10,'1936, it has been Vproposed to unite the separate awning sections'by means of slide fastener stringers secured tothe proximate edges of the sectionsthe elort being to produce a closer approximation to the neatness of appearance and general eletivness which would theoretically result from theuseof a single," large, awning section. To thisend, separate awning sections have been proposed 'to be equipped with fastener stringers controlled by aslider so located as to couple and uncouple the stringers as the ation of such aWn1ngs,`and'it is the primary object of the present invention to meet such difficulties and provide a multiple-section, stringerequipped awning which can readily be raised and lowered at will, and in which the raised awning sections are properly accommodated on their respective rollers.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts Vhereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of .a preferred .embodiment ofthe invention, from which the several features `of the Vinvention and the .readily unadvantages attained thereby will be derstood by Athose skilled in the art.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 isla perspective View orfpan, awning assembly according to the invention, shown in lowered position; h

Fig. 2 is a much enlarged vfront elevational view, partially broken out;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View, substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Y h y l Fig. 41s a broken oui-wand sectioned view illustrating` the awningjsections partially wound up on,theirrollers;-4 l y l Fig. 5 is a sectional View, correspondingutpfthe lower end of Fig. 3 but showing a rriolirei construction; and

Fig. 6 illustrates the center bearing construcv tion Viewed as on theline 6-6 of Fig. 4. i

Fig. 'l is a sectionV (or'niti'lirigl backgroundljon the line 1-1 of Fig. 3. h h

For purposesof illustration,` the inventioniis shown applied to a' i r h ing.of..leit and right handsections I and 'g Oapplied to` the frontwall 43` of'a'storeso astooverhang the window 4. h h sections are suitably secured, as belovvldescrlbed, to rollersections generally designated '.i`and B, which roller sections are supported at their outer ends in journals l, 8 carried by `b`r"acketsf9',V "Ill secured to the storefront. At their lower ends the awning sections are suitably securedfasfbelfw described, to a lower edge` bar or pipe Il Aw'hicliis held away from 'the store front, in the'lowered position of the awning, in anywof the well known ways, such as by pivoted "arms offwhich n,

marked l2, is indicated in Fig. 1. suh details as the last mentioned, and also `the mechanical means employed for rotating therollers, form no..

part` or the present invention and `are therefore not necessary to be described. .i h i i Secured to the sto-re front, as rby bolts I3 (Fig. 3) is a wall bracket I4 h A bearing, generally designated-I5, axially aligned with the rollers 5, 6, the proximate ends of the latter beingl supported in the bearingiby reduced diameter. shaft portions I 6, I l. Specificallithe bearing is supported on the outer end of an arm ldwhich is shownas being beveled along its upper edge I4, 'I'herdiameter of the bearing; it willbe noted, is` Vless than-that ofthe rollers. AXially of the shaft portions the bearing is held to a minimum width or thickness and-eachof the rollers 5, 6 terminates a substantial distance short of the sides of thebearing, a distance at least equal to the full width of the slide `fastener stringers I8, I9 which are secured to the proximate edges `of the awning sections. lByreason of the described arrangement of bearingshaft portions and rollers, it will. be apparent that around each shaft portion, on each side ofthe bearing, there is provided a space of substantial width, that is, in a directionaxially of the rollers. The fastener elementswith which the stringers are equipped may be of any welll-known ordesired construction, the awningsections-- preferably being renderedV completely separable. as .by fthe use 'ofone ofthelfamiliar forms of sti-called pinsuch as indicated generally at tw -section awning consistl At their upper ends the which rigidly supports h a 20. Also supported by the wall bracket i4, by a suitable pivot 2|, is a bifurcated arm 22 which overhangs the bearing l5 and has its upper limb 23 extending above and its lower limb 24 extending below the plane of the awning sections; and suspended between the ends of the limbs 23, 24, as by means of clip members 23a, 24a, is a slider 2'5 which serves to couple and uncouple the fastener stringers as the latter are drawn through the slider in lowering or raising the awning. So located and supported, the slider is found to operate very smoothly over the fastener elements.

When the rollers are rotated to raise the awning sections, the slider uncouples the stringers and tends to direct them somewhat laterally, or away from each other; and as the uncoupled stringers pass around behind the rollers they are compelled to separate when they encounter the upper beveled edge I4 of arm I4. As the awning sections are wrapped around the rollers, the proximate edges of the sections carrying the relatively thick fastener stringers are flexed into the described spaces by the building up of the successive awning layers, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings in which the awning is partially rolled up. Due to the fact that the bearing diameter is less than that of the rollers, there is no undue build up of thickness even of the outer layers prior totheir being tucked into the described spaces around the shaft sections; and, in the result it is possible to roll up the awning sections smoothly and without difficulty or strain on the awnings or stringers and without the thickness of any part of the rolled up stringer edges building up to the point of interfering with the raising operation.

In the illustrated preferred form of the invention the two awning sections are adapted for separate removal, as for individual replacement and to this end are detachably secured, both to their rollers and to the lower edge bar, by means of upper and lower slide fastener stringers.

To each of the rollers there is permanently secured a short length of awning or like material, one such length, marked 2B, being illustrated in Fig. 3 where it is shown secured to the roller by screw 21. Since the mounting of the two awning sections is identical, the description of one will serve for both. The free edge of the material 26 carries a slide fastener stringer 28, the fastener elements of which are adapted to interlock with the elements of a companion Stringer 29 secured to the upper edge of one of the awning sections, section 2 in this instance. These stringers are united at their outer ends by a pinand-box or other suitable detachable end stop 30, providing for complete separation of the awning section from the mounting material 2S, and are adapted to be coupled and uncoupled by a slider 3| Which also overlies the space between the bearing and the adjacent roller. Thus, when the awning is raised, the slider 3| can also be accommodated in such space. As illustrated, the other awning section, l, is similarly secured to its roller, the separation of its fastener stringers being controlled by a similar slider 3l'.

To the lower edge `bar I l there is secured `a strip of fabric in the form of a loop 32 which at its free or upper end carries a slide fastener stringer 33 adapted for coupling engagement with a stringer 34 secured to the underside of awning section 2 toward but spaced from its lower edge. As before, these stringers are adapted for complete separation by the use of a pin-and-box or similar separable end stop 35 and are coupled and uncoupled by a slider 36. The other awning section, I, is similarly detachably secured to bar Il. As shown in Fig. 3, the extreme lower margin 31 of the awning section may hang free over the bar Il to form a decorative edge, as is common, so much of the awning section as is below the stringer 34 being held in place by a flap of material 38 stitched to the awning section adjacent the bar and itself secured to material 32 as by snap-fasteners 39.

It will thus be apparent that by the uncoupling of the appropriate stringers, either awning section can be bodily removed, as for replacement, without disturbing the other; and, by the same token, both sections are readily removable, as for storage or whenever desired.

Fig. 5 serves merely to illustrate an alternative method of securing the lower edge of an awning section 2 to the lower edge bar l l. In this form the lower marginal portion 31 of the awning section itself is wrapped around the bar and at its free edge carries a fastener stringer 33 adapted for coupling engagement with a stringer 34 secured (like the stringer 34) to the underside of the awning section. The uncoupling of the lower edge of the awning section is effected, as before, by a suitable slider (not shown).

It will be understood that the identification of the shaft sections I6, l1 as separate elements is for convenience of description only. As actually constructed, it is preferable to use a single, central shaft extending clear through the 'bearing and projecting from each side of it (as illustrated) and to support the rollers on the ends of this shaft, as by plugs inserted in the ends of the rollers. Thus, the rollers and their shaft actually function as a single unit.

The principles of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing and in the lightJ of the description of the embodiments shown in the drawings to exemplify such principles, the following is claimed:

1. In an awning structure, the combination with a wall bracket, a bearing supported thereby, a rotatable roller on each side of the bearing axially aligned therewith, shaft portions of a diameter substantially less than that of the rollers supporting the proximate ends of the rollers in said bearing, awning sections secured to the rollers, and slide fastener stringers secured to the proximate edges of the awning sections, of a bifurcated arm pivotally supported on the wall bracket and overhanging the bearing with one portion of the arm extending above and the other portion of the arm extending below the plane of the awning sections, each of the proximate ends of the rollers terminating short of the bearing by an amount at least equal to the width of the said stringers, thereby forming a space of substantial width around the shaft portions and intermediate the sides of the bearing and each of the adjacent roller ends, and a slider for` coupling and uncoupling the stringers when the awning sections are lowered and raised, respectively, the said slider being mounted between the upper and lower portions of the bifurcated arm.

2. In an awning structure, the combination with a wall bracket, a bearing supported thereby, a rotatable roller on each side of the bearing axially aligned therewith, shaft portions of a diameter substantially less than that of the rollers supporting the proximate ends of the rollers in said bearing, awning sections secured to the rollers, and slide fastener stringers secured to the proximate edges of the awning sections, of a bifurcated arm supported on overhanging the bearing with one portion of the arm extending above and the other portion of the arm extending below the plane of the awnthereby forming a space of substantial Width around the shaft portions and intermediate the sides of the bearing and each of the adjacent roller` ends, and a slider for coupling and uncoupling the stringers when the awning sections are lowered and raised, respectively, `the said slider being mounted between the upperand lower portions of the bifurcated arm.

3. In an awning structure, the combination with a wall bracket, a bearing supported thereby, a rotatable roller on each side of the bearing axially aligned therewith, shaft portions of a diameter substantially less than that of the rollers supporting the proximate ends of the rollers in said bearing, awning sections secured to the rollers, and slide fastener stringere secured to the proximate edges of the awning sections, of a bifurcated arm supported on the wall bracket with one portion of the arm adapted to extend above and the other portion of the arm below the plane of the awning sections, each of the proximate ends of the rollers terminating short of the bearing by an amount at least equal to the width of the said stringere, thereby forming a space of substantial width around the shaft portions and intermediate the sides of the bearing and each of the adjacent roller ends, and a slider for coupling and uncoupling the stringere when the awning sections are lowered and raised, respectively, the said slider being mounted between the upper and lower portions of the bifurcated arm.

4. In an awning structure, the combination with a wall bracket, a bearing supported thereby, a rotatable roller on each side of the bearing axially aligned therewith, shaft portions of a diameter substantially less than that of the rollers supporting the proinmate ends of the rollers in said bearing, awning sections secured to the rollers, and slide fastener stringers secured to the proximate edges of the awningsections, of a bifurcated arm supported with freedom for movement relatively to the wall bracket with one portion of the arm adapted to extend above and the other portion of the arm the awning sections, each of the proximate ends of the rollers terminating short of the bearing by an amount at least equal to the width of the said stringers, thereby forming a space of substantial width around the shaft portions and intermediate the sides of the bearing and each of ends, and a slider for coupling and uncoupling the stringers when the awning sections are lowered and raised, respectively, the said slider being mounted between the upper and lower portions of the bifurcated arm.

5. In an awning structure, the combination with a wall bracket, a bearing supported thereby, a rotatable roller oneach side of the bearing axially aligned therewith, shaft portions of a diameter substantially less than that of the rollers supporting the proximate ends of the rollers in said beading, awning sections secured to the rollers, and slide fastener stringere secured to the proximate edges Aof the awning sections, of an arm pivotally support'zed on Athe wall bracket, each of the proximat'ends of the rollers terminating short of the bearing by an amount at least equal to the width of the said stringers, thereby the wall bracket and below the plane `of,

forming a space of substantial width around the shaft portions and intermediate the sides of the bearing and each of the adjacent rollerends, and a slider for coupling and uncoupling the stringers when the awning sections are lowered and raised, respectively, the said slider being mounted on the said pivoted arm.

6. In an awning structure, the combination with a wall bracket, a bearing supported thereby, a rotatable roller on each side of the bearing axially aligned therewith, shaft portions of a substantially less than that of the rollers supporting the proximate ends of the rollers in said bearing, awning sections secured to the rollers, and slide fastener stringers secured to the proximate edges of the awning sections, of an arm supported on the of the proximate ends of the short of the bearing by an amount` at least equal to the `width of the said stringers, thereby forming a space of substantial width around the shaft portions and intermediate the sides of theubear ing and each of the adjacent roller ends, said arm overhanging said space and a slider for coupling and uncoupling the stringere when the awning sections are lowered and raised, respectively, the said slider being mounted on the said arm and adapted to guide the fastener stringers toward the said spaces as the awning sections are wound on the rollers.

7. In an awning structure of the kind including coaxially arranged rollers having awning sections secured thereto and slide fastener stringers secured to the proximate edges of the sections, and a bearing located between the adjacent ends of the rollers: a shaft portion of a diameter substantially less than that ofthe rollers and of a and the awning tive rollers.

8. In an awning structure of the character described, the combination of a wall bracket, a bearing supported thereby, a bifurcated arm pivotaily supported on the bracket and extending outwardly therefrom beyond the bearing, and upper andlower slider supporting means carried by the respective portions of the bifurcatediarm.

of the rollers: a slider Vfor said stringers located adjacent the bearing and means for supporting thej sliderboth from beneath and from above the plane of the awning sections.

12. In an awning structure of the character described, th'e combination of a pair of coaxially arranged rollers, upper awning mounting sections attached thereto, slide fastener stringers secured to the free edges of the upper awning mounting sections, awning sections having slide fastener stringers secured to the upper edges thereof for coupling engagement with the stringers of the upper awning mounting sections, additional stringers secured to the proximate edges of the awning sections for coupling engagement with each other, a lower edge awning bar, lower slide fastener stringers secured to the under sides of the awning sections adjacent and substantially parallel to the said bar but spaced therefrom toward the rollers and means for securing each' of the awning sections to the said bar for independent removal therefrom including slide fastener stringers adapted for coupling engagement with the said lower slide fastener stringers.

13. In an awning structure of the character described the combination of a pair of coaxially arranged rollers, upper awning mounting sections attached thereto, slide fastener stringers secured to the free edges of the upper awning mounting sections, awning sections having slide fastener stringers secured to the upper edges thereof for coupling engagement with the stringers of the upper awning mounting sections, additional stringers secured to the proximate edges of the awning sections for coupling engagement with each other, lower slide fastener stringers secured to the awning sections adjacent the lower edges thereof, a lower edge awning bar and means for securing each of the awning sections to such bar for independent removal therefrom including slide fastener stringers adapted for coupling engagement with said lower slide 'fastener stringers.

14. In an awning structure of the character described, the combination of a pair of coaxially arranged rollers, upper awning mounting sections attached thereto, slide fastener stringers secured to the free edges of the upper awning mounting sections, awning sections having slide fastener stringers secured to the upper edges thereof for coupling engagement with th'e stringers of the upper awning mounting sections, additional stringers secured to the proximate edges of the awning sections for coupling engagement with each other, lower slide fastener stringers secured to the awning sections adjacent the lower edges thereof, a lower awning bar, lower awning mounting sections attached to theV bar, and slide fastener stringers secured to the lastmentioned sections for coupling engagement with the said lower slide fastener stringers of the awning sections.

15. In an awning structure of the character described, the combination of a pair of coaxially arranged rollers, upper awning mounting sections attached thereto, slide fastener stringers secured to the free edges of the upper awning mounting sections, awning sections having slide fastener stringers secured to the upper edges thereof for coupling engagement with the stringers of the upper awning mounting sections, additional stringers secured to the proximate edges of the awning sections for coupling engagement with each other, a lower edge awning bar, lower slide fastener stringers secured to the under sides of the awning sections adjacent and substantially parallel to the said bar but spaced therefrom toward the rollers, said awning sections being wrapped around the said bar, and means for securing the lower` edges of the awning sections relatively to they bar including slide fastener stringers,l adapted for coupling engagement with the said lower slide fastener stringers.

16. In an awning structure of the character described, the combination of a pair of coaxially arranged rollers, upper awning mounting sections attached thereto, slide fastener stringers secured to the free edges of the upper awning mounting sections, awning sections having slide fastener'stringers secured to the upper edges thereof for coupling engagement with the stringers of the upper awning mounting sections, additional stringers secured to the proximate edges of the awning sections for coupling engagement with each other, a lower edge awning bar, lower slide fastener stringers secured to the under sides of the awning sections adjacent and substantially parallel to the said bar but spaced therefrom toward the rollers, said awning sections being wrapped around the said bar, and slide fastener stringers secured to the lower edges of the awning sections for coupling engagement with the said lower slide fastener stringers.

17. The combination of claim 'l in which the said bearing is of a diameter less than that of the said rollers.

18. In an awning structure including a roller and a lower edge bar: the combination of an upper awning mounting section attached to the roller, a slide fastener stringer secured to the free edge of the mounting section, an awning section, a second fastener Stringer secured to the upper edge of the awning section for coupling engagement with the. mounting section Stringer, a third fastener Stringer secured to the underside of the awning section, parallel to its upper edge, adjacent but spaced from the lower edge of the awning section, a closed loop of material encircling the lower'edge bar and having a portion extending upwardly beneath the awning section, and a fourth Stringer secured to said upwardly extending portion and adapted for coupling engagement with said third Stringer.

19. In an awning structure including a roller and a lower edge bar: the combination of an upper awning mounting section attached to the roller, a slide fastener Stringer secured to the free edge of the mounting section, an awning section, a second fastener Stringer secured to the upper edge of the awning section for coupling engagement with the mounting section Stringer, a third fastener Stringer secured to the underside of the awning section, parallel to its upper edge, adjacent but spaced from the lower edge of the awning section, a fourth stringer adapted for coupling engagement with said third stringer, and means for securing the awning section to the said lower edge bar by said third and fourth stringers.

CHARLES C. WILLIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,928,366 Buckingham Sept. 26, 1933 1,959,136 Miller May 15, 1934 1,813,980 Williams July 14, 1931 

